Iain Banks

Iain Banks came to widespread and controversial acclaim with the publication of his first novel, THE WASP FACTORY, in 1984. However, it was his 1987 novel CONSIDER PHLEBAS which introduced his remarkable talent to the SF community, and also saw the addition of the 'M' to his name - an addition which remains a distinguishing feature of his SF work. Described by William Gibson as 'a phenomenon ... wildly successful, fearlessly creative', he was acknowledged as one of the Best of Young British Writers in 1993.

He died of cancer on the 9th June 2013, three weeks after finishing his final novel.